September is here already and we are rapidly heading for the second equinox of the year - the day of equal hours of daylight and darkness. This is the time of year when the photons of light are actually getting shorter, so less light reaches the northern hemisphere of planet Earth. The Earth tilts so that the northern hemisphere is further away from the sun than the southern hemisphere.

So what does that mean for us?

Well, it's actually really important because every cell in the body (and this applies equally to humans as well as animals on our planet) responds to changes in light. When less light reaches our cells at the time of the equinox our cells receive the message to DETOX - i.e. to throw out the debris - the unwanted material and get ready for the oncoming winter.

Why are people prone to acute illnesses at this time of year?

Simply because the body is busy with a good autumnal detox! It is using all the exit routes of the body - skin, lungs, bladder, bowels - and all the orifices of the body to get rid of unwanted toxins and debris. So if we clog up the body's exit routes at this time with unsuitable foods, we clog up the exit points! Hence acute illness can result. That makes perfect sense when you think about it doesn't it?

What should I eat and drink at this time of year?

Try to eat with the seasons if possible. Autumn is the perfect time of year to cook with root vegetables: These are vegetables that grow beneath the Earth's surface: carrots, parsnips, swedes for example which have a tap root that absorbs nutrients from the soil. Cooking soups and stews with these will nourish the body for the oncoming winter. The vegetables act as little scrubbing brushes, scrubbing out the insides of the cells and helping them to detox.

Try if you can to cut down on mucous forming foods (dairy comes into this category) as this can clog up the lungs when they are trying to detox. Cut down on sugary foods too as these overload the body and make the pancreas work overtime!

Herbal teas such as dandelion and nettle are great at this time of year to support the liver and kidneys while they are trying to detox. Grab a cup first thing and sweeten with honey if desired. I also like to have a mug of apple cider vinegar with the mother - no, I don't mean with my mother! The "mother" is the unpasteurised bit at the bottom of the bottle with all the probiotics in it - the body loves these. Put an inch in a mug, sweeten with a teaspoon of honey and top up with boiling water. But make sure you buy the "with the mother" version - you'll see it on the label. If you find it upsets your stomach a bit you can add a pinch of bicarbonate of soda and that should help.

I like to use a herbal tincture at this time of year to assist the body. My favourite one has a mixture of Berberis, Nettle, Borage, Horsetail, and Dandelion. I take 10 drops in water in the morning to help things along.

Be mindful of your alcohol consumption as well at this time of year. The body really welcomes a good clean out to prepare for winter! No need to beat yourself up if you don't always manage to pick the best food and drink options, but just pay attention to what you are putting in your mouth as it will pay dividends.

Homeopathic remedies:

Nux vomica: Great if you have overindulged and are feeling a bit green around the gills! The patient will be feeling bilious and possibly bad tempered with a strong urge to defecate, but possibly feeling constipated too!

Gelsemium: This is known as "the glass coffin"! The patient lies immobile, not wanting to move. A fabulous remedy for flu which has come upon slowly over the course of a few days. The patient will be weak and listless and will show classic flu symptoms and may be shivery and shaky. A remedy very often used when the seasons changer from Spring to Summer and Summer to Autumn.

Belladonna: This is your go to remedy for those that shoot a high temperature, often used for children who wake up screaming in the middle of the night having had a bad dream or nightmare. They will be glassy eyes, hot and dry and may have wet the bed. A dose of homeopathic Belladonna will set them to rights again.

Bryonia:Dryness is the keynote of this remedy. Ailments come on very slowly and the patient may have been out in a cold wind before falling ill. The Bryonia cough will be barking and dry. The patient will want to withdraw, rather than seeking company. He will want to drink water. This is our number one remedy for pleurisy! If the patient has a cough he will be reluctant to cough at all, anticipating the pain of a single cough!

So there we have a few remedies to help you through to Autumn. If your symptoms fit the remedy picture then get the remedy in a 30c potency and take 3-4 times daily for a couple of day, stopping when symptoms clear up. If symptoms persist then consult your homeopath!